Monday 17th May 2021
Unacceptable by Nazi comparison
DFB President Keller resigns after only 598 days
As announced, Fritz Keller has resigned as President of the German Football Association (DFB). The 64-year-old drew the consequences of the Nazi scandal he had caused. The two Vice Presidents Rainer Koch (amateurs) and Peter Peters (professionals) should lead the crisis-ridden association on an interim basis until the Bundestag is brought forward at the beginning of next year. Who should be the new president is open.
As the 13th head of the largest individual sports association in the world, Keller was at the top for only 598 days. His term of office was marked by an ongoing power struggle in the divided leadership. There were also investigations by the judiciary against association officials and the problems as a result of the corona pandemic. Keller’s predecessors Wolfgang Niersbach and Reinhard Grindel had to take their hats off prematurely.
In the end, Keller was no longer acceptable because he had compared his deputy Koch in a meeting with the notorious Nazi judge Roland Freisler. For this reason, Keller was the first DFB president to answer before the association’s internal sports court. A judgment is expected in the coming days.
In addition to Keller, General Secretary Friedrich Curtius is also expected to leave the DFB. The contract of the opponent von Keller must be terminated beforehand. Treasurer Stephan Osnabrügge only wants to remain in office until the Bundestag.
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